Vascular Sonography

The Sonography Programs at Lackawanna College are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), 25400 U.S. Highway 19 North, Suite 158, Clearwater, FL 33763. For details, visit www.caahep.org.

Each of Lackawanna College’s Sonography Programs is designed to be completed over a two-year period with day, evening, and Saturday courses as well as on- and off-campus clinical hours. Each program also includes summer session courses and clinical lab hours.

Acceptance into all Lackawanna College Sonography Programs is based on a selective admissions process with a maximum of 25 students selected annually for the Cardiac and Vascular Programs and 20 for the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program.

Please note that not all applicants to the Sonography Program will be accepted. All candidates must follow the standard procedures outlined below and meet program qualifications to be considered for one of the openings each year.

Criteria and Requirements

Application to Lackawanna College and a separate application to Sonography program

The application deadline for all Sonography Programs is March 1. All documents must be submitted or post marked by deadline to be considered.

Must meet the college’s minimum requirements

Applicant must submit proof of high school or GED completion with official high school transcript or GED equivalent.

Lackawanna College will determine the applicant’s current academic ability based on a combination of following:

SAT or ACT test scores, if applicable

Recommended SAT scores: 470 Verbal and 470 Math.

Recommended ACT scores: 20 or higher in each relevant section.

Most scores are valid up to 3 years from test date.

College Transfer Credits

If transferring credits from another college/university, official college transcripts are required. Transfer credits must be at least 3.0 or greater to meet Sonography program academic standards.

Placement Test

Applicants without valid SAT/ACT scores and who have not previously earned college credits will be required to take the ACCUPLACER exam for determination of current academic ability. Applicants must achieve ‘College Ready’ scores in Reading, Writing, and Math to be considered qualified for one of the Sonography Programs.

Completion of a Biological Science course

If completed in high school, the course must be no more than 3 years old.

Completion of science-type course(s) at the high school or college level must again be evidenced in the form of an official high school or college transcript.

Due to the very specific nature of these degree programs, applicants with transfer credits may only transfer credits related to program core courses including the following:

Anatomy and Physiology I – 4 credits

Anatomy and Physiology II – 4 credits with lab (if taken within three years)

College Algebra

Computer Applications

College Writing

Effective Speaking

Introduction to Psychology

Medical Ethics (subject to review)

Medical Terminology (subject to review)

Transfer students with an associate degree in science may be considered for bypass of the Pre-Sonography semester, subject to review.

All other courses within the curriculum must be completed at Lackawanna College under the Sonography program.

Interviews will be scheduled for qualified Sonography program applicants who submit a fully completed application with all materials by previously stated deadline:

The top 25 applicants for Vascular and Cardiac

The top 20 applicants for DMS

Mandatory Informational Meeting will be required prior to start of the selected program.

Qualified students will be notified of the date and time upon selection into program. The meeting will review the Sonography Department’s policies and expectations. The meeting will also allow for question and answer session and tour of the Lackawanna College Sonography facilities.

Degree Information

A Vascular Technologist, also called a diagnostic medical sonographer, provides health care patient services using medical ultrasound to gather data necessary to diagnose a variety of conditions and diseases. Lackawanna’s two-year associate degree program requires 70 credit hours of course work and includes science and vascular courses, labs and clinical experiences as well as the College’s basic core courses.

Job opportunities and salaries in the healthcare specialty of vascular sonography have been rising steadily over the last few years and the U.S. Department of Labor predicts another 39% increase in the need for vascular sonographers by the year 2022. The median income is $52,070 with a salary range of $27,830 to $80,790.

Students will learn through successful didactic and clinical training following the standards of the sonography curriculum. Student outcomes will be measured through written tests, quizzes and projects as well as hands-on examinations.

100% success of students passing the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) or the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) examination upon graduation from the program.

Minimum entry-level competency of all program graduates.

Minimal attrition.

Meetings with clinical site liaisons. Through site visits, written and verbal correspondence, and at the beginning of each semester, a meeting is held to discuss the expectations of the students, the instructors and the facilities.

Capable of completing documentation of history and physicals.

Proficiency of patient care skills.

Psychomotor domain

Meetings with clinical site liaisons. Through site visits, written and verbal correspondence, and at the beginning of each semester, a meeting is held to discuss the expectations of the students, the instructors and the facilities.

Identify normal anatomy and patient pathology.

Effectively prepare preliminary study reports.

To perform all competencies effectively and efficiently.

Continuing education through local societies and national organizations.

Affective domain

Professionalism.

Broaden patient relation skills.

Behavior based on ethical reasoning and judgment.

To be able to work effective and efficiently within a clinical setting.

Feedback from employer and graduate surveys.

Methods to assure appropriateness of program’s goals and objectives

The following methods are used to assure that both programs’ goals are met:

Advisory Board: Periodic meetings take place to discuss the program’s progress and to reassess resource requirements and community needs.

Departmental meetings: Held on a monthly basis to discuss and handle various issues and concerns related to the program.

Meetings with clinical site liaisons: Through site visits, written and verbal correspondence, and at the beginning of each semester, a meeting is held to discuss the expectations of the students, the instructors and the facilities.

Testing: Throughout the course of the program.

Student surveys: Performed each semester.

ARDMS registry exam: Upon first graduates and followed annually by utilizing the ARDMS school reports system

Employer feedback: Will be used upon first graduating class and utilized in a timely fashion following each graduating class thereafter.

Analysis of data collected

Student surveys are compiled and reviewed by both the director of the program and the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Reports are generated each semester on student grades, attrition, GPAs, and class size and reviewed by the Program Director and Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Curriculum is evaluated yearly by faculty, the director, and the Vice President with student input as well as close contact with the Medical Directors.

2016 Student / Graduate Outcome Information

Program design

Length of program (in months)

24

Total students admitted in 2016

3

How many times per year is this program offered?

1

Attrition rate

Number of students admitted

3

Number of students graduating

3

Attrition rate

0%

Job placement rate

Number of graduates in 2016

3

Number of graduates employed

3

Job placement rate

100%

Graduate survey results

Number of graduates in 2015

5

Number of graduate surveys returned

4

Graduate survey return rate

80%

Employer survey return rate

Number of employed graduates from 2015

4

Number of employer surveys returned

1

Employer survey return rate

25%

Credential success rate

Number of students taking vascular credential

3

Number of students earning credential from ARDMS

3

Vascular credential success rate

100%

Number of students taking SPI from ARDMS

3

Number of students successfully passing SPI exam

3

SPI examination success rate

100%

Timeline

March 1: Deadline for ApplicationWaiting lists are created in all three sonography programs, and additional seats may become available up until the start of the Fall semester. Please call the Admissions office at (570) 961-7814 for more information.

March 1-28: Application Review Period and Interviews

April 1: Program Acceptance Letters and Alternative Option Letters will be mailed to all applicants.

Acceptance Letter will indicate their status in the specific program of choice and will outline all requirements needed to solidify place on official list for that program.

June 1: Deadline for all accepted students to make commitment to program. All requirements will need
to be complete at that time *

Items for Official Placement into program*

$100 commitment fee

Official high school transcripts

Official college transcripts

SAT/ACT scores, if applicable

FAFSA

Alternative Option letters will explain to students that they are not denied from attending the college, but have not been accepted into one of the three Allied Health Sonography Programs. In this letter it will include suggested courses for candidate to complete to better qualify themselves for re-application in the future.

The selected candidates will be notified during the pre-semester of the due date and info for completing these requirements, then have until July 15 to obtain/complete the following requirements:

* All coursework must be successfully completed prior to enrollment in Clinical III.

The Vascular Technology program is currently offered exclusively at the Scranton campus.

Lackawanna College

Lackawanna College is an accredited, private, non-profit educational institution providing opportunities for career and personal development within selected associate degree, certificate and continuing education programs.